Tourism in Assam, Best place to visit in Asaam

Hello, readers

Today I will provide you every single information about a place that is a perfect mixture of nature, wildlife, holism, history, handloom, art & craft and culture. I’m talking about the BEAUTIFUL ASSAM the part of North-East India which can be your next destination to travel with your loved one.

Assam is synonymous with breathtaking natural beauty, teeming wildlife, immaculate tea gardens and warm, beautiful people. It’s strategic location in the northeast of India, and it’s accessibility from the rest of the country makes it the gateway to the northeastern states.

First of all I would like to explore the wild life in Assam.

WILD LIFE: With five national parks, two of which are designated World Natural Heritage Sites by UNESCO, and several wildlife and bird sanctuaries, Assam is a blessed land for wildlife enthusiasts.

At the heart of its mind boggling biodiversity is the rich topography of Assam with its lush hills and valleys dissected by the majestic Brahmaputra and its many tributaries.

Assam is home to over 180 species of mammals, including rare and endangered species like the great Indian one-horned rhinoceros, the royal Bengal tiger, the golden langur and hoolock gibbon.
Assam's most famous parks are Kaziranga and Manas. Both were conferred World Heritage Status in 1985. Along with kaziranga and Manas National Park there are few other wild life park available in Assam. Those are Nameri National Park and Dibru-Saikhowa National Park.

After that my favorite part is Historical Monument.

Historical Monument : The 18th century Rangghar, Asia’s first amphitheatre, at Sivasagar town exemplifies the best of Ahom architecture. The octagonal, two-storey structure stands on exotic material—jaggery, black gram, elephant grass, limestone, snail ooze, filtered lime powder, long fish bones, mustard oil, incense, and of course bricks and big stones. Members of the royalty watched buffalo and elephant fights, duels and sporting events from the upper storey while commoners enjoyed them sitting on earthen mounds that once surrounded Rangghar.

The amphitheatre is close to Talatal Ghar or ‘underground palace’, the largest of the Ahom monuments. The irregularly shaped palace had seven storeys, three of them underground with two secret tunnels – one of them 16 km long – for use as escape routes during enemy attacks. The underground chambers have been sealed but visitors can view the remnants of the upper storeys. Another multi-storeyed palace is the Kareng Ghar.

Sivasagar is surrounded by medieval tanks – locally called sagar (sea) for an indigenous technology that helps maintain the water level even during severe dry seasons. Not far away from the town at Charaideo are the maidams or the pyramid-like royal vaults. Each maidam has a domed superstructure covered by a hemispherical earthen mound. No less significant are the following archaeological sites. 

Da-Parbatia

The ruins of the door frame of Da-Parbatia Temple a few kms. from Tezpur town, is perhaps the finest and oldest specimen of sculptural or iconoclastic art in Assam. It's carving has the characteristics of the style of early Gupta School of sculpture. The door-jambs having two goddesses, Ganga and Yamuna, standing below with garlands in their hands in artistic pose and elegance are decorated with beautiful ornamental foliage. 

Madan Kamdev

Barely 40 kms. away from the sprawling metropolis Guwahati, on N.H. 52 Madan Kamdev is an enigma, a mystery, a marvel and in the words of Omar Khayam, "a veil past which I could not see". Very little is known about the origin of this magnificient archaeological ruins. Written history is almost silent on it, leaving wide room for conjectures and hypothesis. The ruins of Madan Kamdev scattered over a hillock dates back to the 9th and 10th centuries. Remnants of 12 temples were discovered here 35 years ago. Apart from Hindu deities, the ruins have erotic sculptures akin to Khajuraho in central India’s Madhya Pradesh state.

Agnigarh

"Preserving the sweet memory of young lovers", Agnigarh or the rampart, surrounded by fire, is perhaps the most beautiful tourist spots in Tezpur. According to legend, Princess Usha, the only daughter of King Bana, was kept inside the palace which was surrounded by rampart of fire. The present Agnigarh, now only a hillock facing the mighty Brahmaputra, provides the tourist a soul touching panoramic view of both the river and Tezpur town.

Suryapahar

Suryapahar is located 136 km west of Guwahati is a unique archaeological site on a hillock sporting Hindu, Buddhist and Jain relics together. The site has hundreds of ancient engraved Shiva Lingas of various sizes, a series of Buddhist stupas and sculptures associated with Jain religious beliefs. Remains of planned houses and artistic bricks at Suryapahar have confirmed the long-held belief that a civilization thrived here centuries ago.

Deoparbat

Deoparbat is close to Kaziranga National Park, Deoparbat is a hillock housing stone carvings and ruins of temples from the 8th and 9th centuries. The main Shiva temple here was destroyed in a major earthquake in 1897. The archaeological site adjoins the Deopahar Reserve Forest and is close to Garampani Wildlife Sanctuary on National Highway 39. Home to hoolock gibbons and golden langurs, the sanctuary derives its name from a hot spring. 

Ambari excavations

Ambari excavations is located in the heart of Guwahati, close to the Dighalipukhuri tank, Ambari straddles two distinct cultural periods ranging from 7-12th AD and 13-17th AD. A ceramic industry dominated by kaolin ware, red ware and buff ware has been unearthed here. Chinese celadon ware and green glazed ware have also been found in the excavation.

Moidams

The moidams are pyramid like burial mounds of members of the Ahom royalty. The best known are some 40 tombs at Charaideo, 30 km from Sivasagar town, which was the first capital of the Ahoms after Sukapha (1228-1268) established his kingdom there. At Hoolungapara, 16 km from Jorhat, is Lachit Moidam that preserves the remains of Lachit Barphukan (1622-72), the great Ahom general who defeated the Mughal forces in the Battle of Saraighat in 1671. Close to Jorhat are Raja Moidam, the tomb of king Purandar Singha, and Purnananda Buragohain Moidam, the tomb of a general near Tocklai.

Third part of my favorite list contains Temples and Holism.

TAMPLE & PILIGRIMEGES : At Kamakhya, Mother Goddess is worshipped in the yoni form inside the sanctum sanctorum that is a cave with rock stairs. Of several legends and myths that tell the story of temple, the most important is that Sati’s genitals fell here as her griefstricken husband Shiva carried her body hither and thither in frenetic sorrow. The hill represents the body of Lord Shiva himself and when Sati’s genitals fell here, it turned blue to become the Nilachal. Though no exact date is available to ascertain the time of establishment of the temple, archeological evidences place it around the 8th century. The present temple was rebuilt in 1565 after it was destroyed and desecrated by a Muslim invader in the 16th century, and is surrounded by many other temples dedicated to several other deities like Bhubaneswari, Kali, Tara, Chhinnamasta, Bagala, Bhairavi, Doomavati, Matangi and Kamala,all of them together with Kamakhya temple are collectively known as the Dasa-mahavidya. The Nilachal Hills also have five Shiva temples – Kameswar, Siddheswar, Amra-Tokoreswar, Aghor and Kautilinga. A pilgrimage to Kamakhya remains incomplete if one also does not visit temples of Jai-Durga, Bana-Durga,Trinath, Kedareswar, Namath-Kali,Hanuman, Ganesh, Pandunath, Smashan-Kali and Gadadhar. While a visit to Kamakhya can be made any time of the year, thousands of devotees land up during Ambubachi Mela every June. One can also offer prayers to the mighty Brahmaputra from the Nilachal Hills that offer a panoramic view of Guwahati. On the western side of Nilachal is Pandunath Devalaya. The principal deity here is Vishnu, and it was here that Vishnu had beheaded Madhu and Kaitabha, two notorious asuras or demons by placing them on his thigh. The thigh on which Vishnu beheaded them is represented by a rock, while the name Pandunath was derived from the images of the five Pandava brothers sculptured on the rock surface here. Buses from most parts of the city ply regularly to Kamakhya. It can be easily reached by auto-rickshaw as well.

Ambubachi Mela

The week-long Ambubachi Mela is the most popular festival held every June in the Kamakhya temple complex. The festival celebrates the harmony between the reproductive female body and the cycles of nature. The temple – all others across Assam and beyond too – is closed for three days during the Mela, coinciding with the menstruation period that the Mother Goddess is believed to undergo. Ploughing fields or cutting earth is forbidden during these three days. The festival marks the divine Mother’s retreat from the demands of her devotees. The temple doors open after three days amid great festivity. Devotees from far and wide throng the temple, seeking a piece of red cloth offered as blessed prasad (consecrated item).

Nabagraha Temple

One of the reasons why Guwahati is referred to as Pragjyotishpur or the city of eastern Astrology is because of the Navagraha temple. Navagraha or the temple of nine planets is situated on a hill top in the heart of Guwahati. It is a mere 3 km away from the Railway Station. In ancient times, it was said to have been a great centre of study of astronomy and astrology. It is accessible by taxis and auto-rickshaws.

Basisthashram

Situated in the southern-most rim of Guwahati city is Basisthashram, said to have been the hermitage of Hindu sage Vashisht. Three rivulets named Sandhya, Lalita and Kanta meet here and flow perenially adding scenic grandeur to the place. Within its complex is Janardan Devalaya, dedicated to Lord Vishnu. 
It is 12 Kms. from the Guwahati Railway Station. City buses ply regularly to the Ashram.

Umananda Temple

The great Shiva temple situated on a hillock in the middle of the Brahmaputra in Guwahati attracts devotees from all over the country during Shiva Ratri. The hillock is accessible by country boats and is called Bhasmachal (Peacock Island), where Shiva is believed to have turned Kamdev, the god of love, to ashes for disturbing his meditation.
Regular ferry services are available to this place.

Ashwankranta, Manikarneswar, Dirgheswari, Rudreswar and Doul Govinda Temples

In North Guwahati, across the Brahmaputra, are Ashwakranta temple that houses what is said to be the footprints of Vishnu in his avatar as a tortoise, the 11th century star-shaped Manikarneswar temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, the 18th century Dirgheswari temple dedicated to Durga, the Rudreswar temple and the Krishna temple of Doul Govinda. 

Mahamaya Temple

Another prime pilgrimage is Mahamaya temple at Bogoribari near Dhubri town in western Assam. These Shakti spots are complimented by an array of temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, such as Bhairabkunda on the border with Bhutan, Shivadol in Sivasagar and the offbeat Tilinga temple (Tinsukia district) where one ties tiny bells on a banyan tree for wishes to come true.

Poa-Mecca

There is also a mosque built by Pir Ghiasuddin Aulia from Baghdad, said to be the first to preach Islam in Assam. It is believed that by offering prayer here, a faithful gains one-fourth (poa) spiritual enlightenment of what could be gained at Mecca and so is known as Poa-Mecca. 

Gurudwara Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sabib

For Sikhs across the globe, a major pilgrimage is the Gurdwara Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib or Damdama Sahib in Dhubri town. It is said that Guru Nanak visited Assam in 1505 and met saint-reformer Srimanta Sankardeva. The gurdwara was built by the ninth Guru Tegh Bahadur to commemorate that visit. The Sikh Temple at Fancybazar in Guwahati is a major Sikh pilgrimage.

Christ Church

Christian missionaries played a major role in promoting the Assamese language but Christianity prospered more in Assam’s sister states. Though it boasts of Christ Church, Guwahati serves more as a transit point for devout Christians on their way to heritage churches in Shillong. 

But Assam’s spiritual centre-pieces are Vaishnavite monasteries or Satras, the hub of which is Batadrava, the birthplace of Sankardeva in Nagaon district 140km east of Guwahati. The other major Satras include Barpeta, Satrasal, Dhekiakhowa and Athkhelia. The island of Majuli has many Satras worth visiting.

SATRA AND MAJULI

Originally, the island was a long, narrow piece of land called Majoli (land in the middle of two parallel rivers) that had the Brahmaputra flowing in the north and the Burhidihing flowing in the south, till they met at Lakhu. Frequent earthquakes in the period 1661–1696 set the stage for a catastrophic flood in 1750 that continued for 15 days, which is mentioned in historical texts and reflected in folklore. As a result of this flood, the Brahmaputra split into two branches — one flowing along the original channel and the other flowing along the Burhidihing channel and the Mājuli island was formed. The Burhidihing's point of confluence moved 190 km east and the southern channel which was the Burhidihing became the Burhi Xuti. The northern channel, which was previously the Brahmaputra, became the Luit Xuti. In due course, the flow in the Luit Xuti decreased, and it came to be known as the Kherkutia Xuti; and the Burhi Xuti expanded via erosion to become the main Brahmaputra River.

The locals speak in the Mising and Assamese languages.

Reference regarding the early existence of Majuli is found in Yogini Tranta that Sutiya king Ratnadhajpal founded his capital in Ratanpur. which is now in the east from kamalabari.

Mājuli has been the cultural capital of Assamese civilisation since the 16th century; based on written records describing the visit of Srimanta Sankardeva — a 16th-century social reformer. Sankardeva, a pioneer of the medieval-age neo-Vaishnavite movement, preached a monotheist form of Hinduism called Vaishnavism and established monasteries and hermitages known as satra on the islet.

The island soon became the leading center of Vaishavinism with the establishment of these satras. After the arrival of the British, Majuli was under the rule of the British until India gained independence in 1947. It is one of world's biggest river islands.

The festival of Ali aye ligang is celebrated during mid-February with great pomp and show. It is celebrated for five days starting from second Wednesday of February till the next week. Local dishes like purang apin (rice wrapped in special leaves), apong (rice beer) and dishes made of pork, fish and chickens are served. Traditional Mising dance Gumrag Soman is performed in every village worshiping the almighty Donyi polo (mother sun and father moon) asking for good year of harvest.

Other festivals like Christmas is celebrated by the majority Christians of Mising tribe in upper Majuli where Jengraimukh village is the epicentre of Christians. Majuli has been the cultural capital and the cradle of Assamese civilization for the past 500 years. The satras set up preserve antiques like weapons, utensils, jewellery and other items of cultural significance. Pottery is made in Mājuli from beaten clay and burnt in driftwood fired kilns in the same mode carried out by the peoples of the ancient Harrappan Civilisation. Sociologists have stressed the preservation of these unique peoples, whose culture and dance forms are untouched by modernism. The hand-loom work of these tribes is internationally famous.

Virtually every person on the island is involved in the three-day long raas festival, depicting the life of Krishna. People from hundreds of kilometers away come to celebrate this festival including a number of expatriate members of community. The satras have honed certain art and craft traditions, which can now be found only here. In Natun Samuguri Satra for example, one can still find the craft of mask-making; and in the Kamalabari Satra the finest boats are made.

The island has been the hub of Assamese neo-Vaishnavite culture, initiated around 15th century by the revered Assamese saint Srimanta Sankardeva and his disciple Madhavdeva. Many Satras or monasteries constructed by the saint still survive and represent the colourful Assamese culture. The saint took refuge in Mājuli and spent a couple of months at Beloguri in West Mājuli, which was a place of grandeur for the historic and auspicious, 'Manikanchan Sanjog' between Shankardeva and Madhavdeva, this was the first satra in Mājuli. After the "Manikanchan Sanjog", sixty five satras were set up. However, today only twenty-two of the original sixty-five are operational. Sixty-five out of the six hundred and sixty-five original satras in Assam were situated in Mājuli.

The main surviving Satras (Satra) are:

During Rass Mahotsav, artists perform Bhawna wearing masks.

·         Dakhinpat Satra: Founded by Banamalidev, a supporter of Raasleela, which is now observed as one of the National Festivals of Assam.

·         Garamurh Satra: This "Satra" was founded by Lakshmikantadeva. During the end of autumn, the traditional the Raasleela is enacted with pomp and celebrations. Ancient weapons called "Bartop" or cannons are preserved here.

·         Auniati Satra: Founded by Niranjan Pathakdeva, the satra is famous for the "Paalnaam" and Apsara Dances and also its extensive assortment of ancient Assamese artefacts, utensils, jewellery and handicrafts. It also has a hundred and twenty five disciples and over seven hundred thousand followers worldwide.

·         Kamalabari Satra: The Kamalabari Satra, founded by Bedulapadma Ata, is a centre of art, cultural, literature and classical studies on the island. Its branch the Uttar Kamalabari Satra has performed cultural programmes of the Satria Art all around the country and abroad.

·         Narashingha Satra: ln the year of 1746 shri shri alengi narasingha satra was established by Ahom king Promottra singha.The founder person of the satra was NRISHING CHARAAN .The Narasingha satra is specially famous for sashi puthi,mask,THIO NAAM,ancient architec ,Bor geet,satriya nritya,gupi nritya,sutradhar etc.

·         Benegenaati Satra: It is a reliquary of antiques of cultural importance and an advance centre of performing art. Muraridev, the grandson of Sankaradeva's stepmother was the founder of the Satra. The royal raiment belongs to the Ahom king Swargadeo Godadhar Singha, is made of gold. Also preserved is the royal umbrella made in gold.

·         Shamaguri Satra: The satra is famous for the mask making in India.

·         Bihimpur satra Satra:.

These satras are the treasure house of "Borgeet" Matiakhara, Satriya Dances (Jumora Dance, Chali Dance, Notua Dance, Nande Vringee, Sutradhar, Ozapali, Apsara Dance, Satria Krishna Dance and Dasavater Dance), all promulgated by Srimanta Sankardeva. It has become a center for shuddhi in the Northeast of India, due to the efforts of Pitambar Deva Goswami.

Mājuli is 20 km from Jorhat. One can take the bus or a hired taxi to the Nimati Steamer Ghat from where ferry services ply. The distance takes over three hours to cover, with three bus rides and two ferry rides.

On the north bank is the river Subansiri and on the south bank, the mighty Brahmaputra has excided the island from the main land. Lakhimpur town is to the north and Golaghat is to its southwest. The town of Sibsagar is on the southeast and Jorhat is to the south. On the extreme east is Dibrugarh District.

·         The Vaishnava Satras founded by Sankardeva

·         The colourful culture of the tribes

·         Migratory birds

·         The Ali-ai-ligang festival in Feb-March

·         Pottery making

·         Mask making

·         Paal Namm festival in the end of winter

·         Folgu utsaav(holi)

·         Madhya Majuli

·         Namoni Majuli

·         Ujoni Majuli

·         The sunset in winter

·         Exotic homespun masks crafts

·         the natural beauty.

Few pictures from the Assam.....

  

 Well the tourism sector in Assam is too broad and huge so in this post I covered only wild life, historical monuments, temple and pilgrimeges and satras in majuli. In my upcoming post I will share with you the remaining part of Assam where tourist can visit and enjoy their vacation. Thank You and keep reading.